WWII Memorial to be dedicated on Pacific Island of Yap

Yap Island, FSM, June 12th, 2010:  The Yap Visitors Bureau (YVB) and the Missing Air Crew Project (MACP) announce the dedication of one of the most unique World War II memorials in the Pacific. The newly constructed site displays the wreckage of a plane flown by Ens. Joseph Cox (from Idaho) and will be dedicated July 27th, symbolizing the tremendous sacrifice and loss of human life near this Pacific Island during WWII. The YVB and MACP have been working together for several years to preserve and remember this very special group of soldiers.

In the historical context of WWII and the Pacific theatre, American losses near Yap (now part of the Federated States of Micronesia) were substantial yet continue to be overlooked even today. Strategically located between the Philippines and Guam, Japanese occupied Yap was targeted almost daily from June of 1944 to August of 1945 at the cost of hundreds of American men, 110 of which remain classified as missing in action (MIA). Pat Ranfranz (from Cameron, WI), founder of the MACP has spent over 20 years researching Yap during WWII and the stories behind each soldier and his mission, hoping to preserve their memories for generations to come. Pat’s uncle is among the soldiers that remain MIA.

The memorial to be dedicated on July 27th displays the actual wreckage of an F6F-5 Hellcat flown by Ens. Joseph Cox, one of 36 planes American planes that fell near the island. Joseph’s plane was shot down with three other Hellcats from the USS Enterprise on September 6, 1944 and was only recently recovered moderately intact. “It is truly one of the most unique wrecks and now memorials in the Pacific,” explains Pat. “After the war, most of the wreckage throughout the world was picked over and removed. Fortunately in this case, the Yapese have respected the wreckages as grave sites and taken care to preserve them and remember the American men who lost their lives during the war.” Joseph’s plane was spared from the expanding Yap landfill in 2008 and relocated to government held land. Displayed on a concrete pad next to an all-weather sign and memorial marker describing the man, the plane, and the mission, the YVB together with the MACP were able to construct one of the finest memorials to American men lost in WWII’s Pacific theatre.

Pat Ranfranz is extremely grateful for the work that has been done to make the memorial come together. “This would not have been possible without the work done by the people of Yap and the Yap Visitors Bureau to save and preserve the American crash sites and wreckages that remained after the war. Too many people have forgotten the men who gave their lives for our freedom during WWII. This memorial and others on Yap Island will help to immortalize the forgotten and bring meaning to their sacrifices.”  Attending the dedication will be Yap Governor Sebastian Anefal, US Ambassador Peter A. Prahar and other dignitaries along with the 90 year old brother of the pilot, Ellis Cox of Idaho.

The memorial dedication, open to the press, will take place from 2-4pm near the Public Works building on the Island of Yap. Please contact the YVB for assistance if your organization would like to attend. Both Pat Ranfranz and representatives from the YVB are available for interviews between now and July (see the contact information at the top of this release). Pat Ranfranz will also be available in Tokyo July 19-20th and Guam July 20th while traveling to Yap. For more information about the memorial dedication and Missing Air Crew Project, visit: https://www.missingaircrew.com or https://www.mantaray.com.

Peter A. Prahar, U.S. Ambassador, Federated States of Micronesia standing in front of the Ens. Joseph Cox F6F-5 Hellcat Memorial on Yap Island.
Patrick Ranfranz stands next to the Ens. Joseph Cox F6F-5 Hellcat wreckage after it was saved.

Contact Information:

Patrick Ranfranz
Missing Air Crew Project
Tel: (715) 458-0020
Cell: (612) 282-5624
pat@missingaircrew.com
www.missingaircrew.com

Bill Acker
Manta Ray Bay Resort
Tel: (691)350-2300
Fax: (691)350-4567 or 3841
yapdivers@mantaray.com
www.mantaray.com

Pat Ranfranz started researching his uncle’s (T/Sgt John R. McCullough) downed aircraft almost 25 years ago while in college. First traveling to Yap in 2005 to find his uncle’s missing plane, Pat has researched, located and documented numerous other missing American planes lost over Yap during the war. The Missing Air Crew Project is thrilled to be joined this summer by two members of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. They volunteered to help the Missing Air Crew Project this summer after hearing a talk from Pat Ranfranz at a dive show last winter. Bringing with them additional deep water search equipment to locate T/Sgt John R. McCullough’s B-24 bomber, the project hopes to bring closure to this decades long search.

Pat Ranfranz, the Missing Crew Project, and the Woods Hole volunteers will be in Yap this summer from July 18-28, 2010

and…

On July 27, 2010 the island of Yap will dedicate the Ens. Joseph Cox F6F-5 Hellcat memorial. The Ens. Cox Hellcat is one of 36 American planes shot down over Yap during World War II. Although the plane was shot down with three other Hellcat’s from the USS Enterprise on September 6, 1944 the plane remains relatively intact. It is truly one of the most unique wrecks and now memorials in the Pacific.

Mantas, Barrakudas, Schildkröten, Herden von Büffelkopf-Papageifischen, Mandarinfisch-Mating und nicht zuletzt auch hautnahe Begegnungen mit verschiedenen Hai-Arten in kristallklarem Wasser machen die mikronesische Insel Yap zu einem Traumziel für Fotografen und Filmer. Vom 4. bis zum 14. September veranstalten Manta Ray Bay Resort & Yap Divers zum vierten Mal in Folge das Shoot-Out „Manta Fest“. Zu gewinnen gibt es nicht nur fünf Reisen zurück nach Yap, sondern auch wertvolle Praxistipps von den renommierten US-Fotoprofis Andy Sallmon, Tim Rock und Ray Bullion.

Weitere Informationen: www.mantafest.com

„Fast alle Unterwasserfoto-Festivals werden an Orten veranstaltet, wo man schöne Landschaften und nette Korallenfische ablichten kann“, sagt Mantaflüsterer Bill Acker. „Bei uns können Fotografen und Filmer darüber hinaus zusätzlich mit Mantas und Haien interagieren und sich über mehr als 60 Meter Sichtweite am Außenriff freuen.“ Wiederholungsbesuche von National Geographic, Voxtours sowie von Filmteams der BBC und des ZDF und etlichen Bildjournalisten geben dem gebürtigen Texaner Recht. Welches andere Fotofestival wirbt schon selbstbewusst mit einer Kategorie „Mantas & Haie“? Neben Standardkategorien wie „Landschaft“ und „Makro“ stehen auch „Verhalten“sowie „Land & Leute“ auf der Agenda. Schließlich gilt Yap mit seinem bunten kulturellen Erbe und traditionellen Tänzen als ursprünglichstes Reiseziel Mikronesiens.
Als Hauptgewinn winkt in jeder Kategorie ein Urlaubspaket im Manta Ray Bay Resort Yap mit sieben Nächten und fünf Tauchtagen. Bill Acker: „Damit erstatten wir den Gewinnern quasi rückwirkend die Kosten für Wohnen und Tauchen.“ Außerdem, so erklärt Bill, seien die Flugpreise dank einer exklusiven Vereinbarung mit Continental Airlines für europäische Gäste so günstig wie nie zuvor (s. www.mantaray.com).
Während des zehntägigen Foto-Festivals im September werden Andy Sallmon, Tim Rock und Ray Bullion nachmittags Seminare im Schulungsraum abhalten, nach Sonnenuntergang Großbild-Vorführungen an Deck des antiken Segelschoners Mnuw präsentieren und am Ende der Veranstaltung die besten Aufnahmen prämieren.

Weitere Informationen: www.mantafest.com, www.mantaray.com.

Honorarfreie Bilder (© Daniel Brinckmann): www.
Anfragen Presse / Reiseveranstalter: daniel.brinckmann@mantaray.com